Heather Chapple

An Architect with over 25 years’ experience in the private, public and third sectors, Heather is Director of Design at Architecture & Design Scotland, a Non-Departmental Public Body of the Scottish Government.

Since 2006 she has led A&DS’s support to NHSScotland and was instrumental in developing the NHSScotland Design Assessment Process, the UK’s first system of design evaluation embedded within public sector financial approvals. She devised the concept and form of 'Design Statements' which establish strategic design standards linking the business case for the development to the experiences of patients, staff and visitors through the engagement of stakeholders. Launched in 2010, this process has supported over £2bn of investment through the briefing and design development phases, with evidential improvements in project outcomes. More recently, Heather has seeded this human-centric approach into other development sectors through the advice A&DS provide to planning, public investment and in housing.

See www.ads.org.uk